Introduction to Anatomy

Session outcomes

• By the end of the session students will be able to describe basic anatomical
terms

• By the end of the session students will be able to use these terms to
describe normal movement

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 Definition

▪ Anatomy is the science of the structure and function of the

body.

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 Anatomical position

• Standing

• Feet parallel

• Facing Forwards

• Arms by side

• Palms facing forwards

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 Anatomical position

▪ the person is standing erect, with the upper limbs by the sides and
the face and palms of the hands directed forward.

▪ This is the so-called anatomic position.

▪ The various parts of the body are then described in relation to

certain imaginary planes.

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 Planes

• Coronal plane (frontal)

• Transverse plane (horizontal)

• Sagittal plane

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 Sagittal plane

• Divides the body into right and left

halves
• Movement of a body part
FORWARDS is generally called
FLEXION
• Movement of a body part
BACKWARDS is generally called
EXTENSION

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 Coronal (frontal) plane

• Divides the body into front and back

parts
• Movement of a body part away from
the mid-line is generally called
ABDUCTION
• Movement of a body part towards
the mid-line is generally called
ADDUCTION

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▪ In the fingers and toes, abduction is applied to the spreading of
these structures.

▪ Adduction is applied to the drawing together of these structures

 Transverse (horizontal) plane

• Divides the body into upper and

lower parts
• Rotation of a body part outwards is
generally called LATERAL
(external) ROTATION
• Rotation of a body part inwards is
generally called MEDIAL (internal)
ROTATION

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 Anterior and posterior

• Anterior – towards the front / in front

of

• Posterior – towards the back / behind

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▪ In describing the hand, the terms palmar and dorsal surfaces are
used in place of anterior and posterior, and

▪ In describing the foot, the terms plantar and dorsal surfaces

are used instead of lower and upper surfaces

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 Medial and lateral

• Medial – closer to the midline

• Lateral – further away from the

midline

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 Superior and inferior

• Superior – Above / on top of

• Inferior – Below / underneath

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 Proximal and distal

• Proximal – nearer to the trunk

• Distal – further from the trunk

• for example, the arm is proximal to

the forearm and the hand is distal to
the forearm.

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 Superficial and deep

• Superficial – closer to the surface

• Deep – further from the surface

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 internal and external

▪ The terms internal and external are used to describe the relative
distance of a structure from the center of an organ or cavity;

▪ For example, the internal carotid artery is found inside the cranial
cavity and the external carotid artery is found outside the cranial
cavity.

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 Ipsilateral and Contralateral

▪ The term ipsilateral refers to the same side of the body;

for example, the left hand and the left foot are ipsilateral.

▪ Contralateral refers to opposite sides of the body; for example, the

left hand and the right hand are contralateral.

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 Supine and Prone

▪ The supine position of the body is lying on the back.

▪ The prone position is lying face downward.

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 Basic Structures : The Skin

▪ The skin is divided into two

parts:
1. superficial part, the
epidermis.
2. deep part, the dermis.

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 The Epidermis

▪ On the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, the epidermis is
extremely thick, to withstand the wear and tear that occurs in these
regions.

▪ In other areas of the body, for example, on the anterior surface of the
arm and forearm, it is thin.

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 The dermis

▪ The dermis is composed of dense connective tissue containing

many blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.

▪ It shows considerable variation in thickness in different parts of the

body, tending to be thinner on the anterior than on the posterior
surface.

▪ It is thinner in women than in men.

Name, Department 28
 The skin

▪ The skin over joints always folds

in the same place, the SKIN
CREASES

▪ The appendages of the skin are

the nails, hair follicles, sebaceous
glands, and sweat glands.

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 Bones

Bone is a living tissue capable of changing its structure as the

result of the stresses to which it is subjected.
Function of Bones:
▪ protective function;
the skull and vertebral column, for example, protect the brain
and spinal cord from injury; the sternum and ribs protect the
thoracic and upper abdominal viscera .
▪ It serves as a lever, as seen in the long bones of the limbs,
▪ storage area for calcium salts.
▪ bone marrow.
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 Bones

5 main types of bone:

• Long
• Short
• Flat
• Sesamoid
• Irregular

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?

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?

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 Joints

▪ Areas where bones are linked together.

▪ Some joints have:

no movement (sutures of the skull),
some have only slight movement
and some are freely movable (shoulder joint).

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▪ Joints are classified according to the tissues that lie between
the bones :
1. Fibrous joints
2. cartilaginous joints
3. synovial joints.
 Joints

• Some joints are linked by fibrous or

cartilaginous tissue and allow little
movement
• Most joints in the body are
SYNOVIAL JOINTS and are freely
moveable

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 Joints (3 types)

• Synovial

• Cartilaginous

• Fibrous

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 What are these?

Ligaments

• Connect bones
• Collagen
• Provide stability

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Muscle

http://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/muscular/structure.html

▪ Composed of bundles of individual fibres.

▪ Muscles which attach to bones are called skeletal muscles.

Catherine Moore, Physiotherapy 44

 Muscle

• Muscle can attach directly to bone or

via a tendon

• The shape and arrangement of the

muscle will effect its function

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 Summary

• A joint is where 2 or more bones meet and is usually where movement

occurs

• Synovial joints contain synovial fluid and the joint surfaces are lined by
hyaline cartilage

• Bones are held together at joints by ligaments

• Movement of bones at a joint is produced by the contraction of

muscles

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 Quiz

With a partner stand in the anatomical position

1.Point to which of these is most proximal – shoulder, elbow, wrist?

2.Which is most distal – hip, knee, foot?
3.Point to the medial side of the arm
4.Point to the lateral aspect of the leg

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 Quiz

5. Point to the anterior aspect of the trunk

6. Which of these is most superficial – skin, fat, muscle?
7. Perform a movement in the sagittal plane
8. Perform a movement in the frontal plane
9. Name the 3 main types of joint

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